132 



THE NEW BOOK OF THE DOG. 



advanced considerably in favour. Their 

 coats should be kept regularly brushed and 

 combed and, if washed occasionally, they 

 will always be smart and clean, and pleasant 

 companions in the house. 



The four colours usually considered cor- 

 rect are black, white, brown, and blue. 

 Curiously enough, my experience is that 



MRS. L. w. crouchs CH. ORCHARD ADMIRAL 



BY CH. THE JOKER LADY GODIVA 



Photograph by T. Fall. 



white Poodles are the most intelligent, and 

 it is certain that professional trainers of 

 performing dogs prefer the white variety. 

 The black come next in the order of intelli- 

 gence, and easilv surpass the brown and blue, 

 which, in my opinion, are somewhat lacking 

 in true Poodle character. 



No strict lines are drawn as regards brown. 

 and all shades ranging from cream to dark 

 brown are classed as brown. Mrs. Robert 

 Long a few years ago startled her fellow- 

 enthusiasts by exhibiting some parti-coloured 

 specimens ; but they were regarded as freaks, 

 and did not become popular. 



The points to be looked for in choosing 

 a Poodle are, that he should be a lively, 

 active dog, with a long, fine head, a dark 

 oval eye, with a bright alert expression, 

 short in the back, not leggy, but by no 



means low on the ground, with a good loin, 

 carrying his tail well up ; the coat should 

 be profuse, all one colour, very curb', and 

 rather wiry to the touch. 



If you buy a Poodle puppy you will 

 find it like other intelligent and active young- 

 sters, full of mischief. The first Poodle 

 with which I was intimately acquainted 

 was a bitch puppy nearly a year old. Her 

 education had been sadly neglected, and as 

 soon as she felt herself at home in the house 

 she devoted her leisure time to pulling out 

 the fibre of cocoanut mats, tearing off the 

 frills of curtains, eating the tops of boots, 

 stripping covers from umbrellas, and engag- 

 ing in other similar expedients for dispelling 

 ennui. I am sure that a naughtier puppy 

 never breathed (she howled all the first 

 night because she was placed in the stable) ; 

 but within a few months her manners 

 became perfect, and she afterwards at- 

 tained fame as Ch. The Black Coquette, the 

 foundress of the Orchard Kennel. 



The great secret in training a Poodle is 

 first to gain his affection. With firmness, 

 kindness, and perseverance, you can then 

 teach him almost anything. 



The most lively and excitable dogs are 

 usually the easiest to train, and it is my 

 experience that the white Poodle excels 

 in quickness of apprehension and obedience. 

 It is advantageous to teach your dog when 

 you give him his meal of biscuit, letting him 

 have the food piece by piece as a reward 

 when each trick is duly performed. Never 

 attempt to teach him two new tricks at a time, 

 and when instructing him in a new trick 

 let him always go through his old ones first. 

 Make it an invariable rule never to be beaten 

 by him. If — as frequently is the case with 

 young dogs — he declines to perform a trick. 

 do not pass it over or allow him to substitute 

 another he likes better; but. when you see 

 he obstinately refuses, punish him by putting 

 away the coveted food for an hour or two. 

 If he once sees he can tire you out you will 

 have no further authority over him, while if 

 you are firm he will not hold out against you 

 long. It is a bad plan to make a dog repeat 

 too frequently a trick which he obviously 

 dislikes, and insistence on your part may do 



